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. 2017 Dec 14;7(12):e019221.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019221.

What interventions are used to improve exercise adherence in older people and what behavioural techniques are they based on? A systematic review

Jonathan Room  1   2 , Erin Hannink  1 , Helen Dawes  1 , Karen Barker  3
Affiliations

What interventions are used to improve exercise adherence in older people and what behavioural techniques are they based on? A systematic review

Jonathan Room et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of interventions used to improve exercise adherence in older people, to assess the effectiveness of these interventions and to evaluate the behavioural change techniques underpinning them using the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy (BCTT).

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: A search was conducted on AMED, BNI, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO databases. Randomised controlled trials that used an intervention to aid exercise adherence and an exercise adherence outcome for older people were included. Data were extracted with the use of a preprepared standardised form. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. Interventions were classified according to the BCTT.

Results: Eleven studies were included in the review. Risk of bias was moderate to high. Interventions were classified into the following categories: comparison of behaviour, feedback and monitoring, social support, natural consequences, identity and goals and planning. Four studies reported a positive adherence outcome following their intervention. Three of these interventions were categorised in the feedback and monitoring category. Four studies used behavioural approaches within their study. These were social learning theory, socioemotional selectivity theory, cognitive behavioural therapy and self-efficacy. Seven studies did not report a behavioural approach.

Conclusions: Interventions in the feedback and monitoring category showed positive outcomes, although there is insufficient evidence to recommend their use currently. There is need for better reporting, use and the development of theoretically derived interventions in the field of exercise adherence for older people. Robust measures of adherence, in order to adequately test these interventions would also be of use.

Prospero registration number: CRD42015020884.

Keywords: adherence; behaviour change; behaviour change technique taxonomy; compliance; exercise; older people.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An example of search terms from Medline.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow diagram of study selection. RCT, randomised controlled trial.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Risk of bias assessment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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